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What SEC football, basketball, and baseball schedules will look like beyond 2024

Image Courtesy: SBNation

At the 2023 SEC Spring Meetings, the league decided to stay at eight conference games for the 2024 football season and create a one-year schedule model similar to the one the conference had in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. If the league were to make the next logical step and play nine conference games every season and from the 2025-2026 athletic season and beyond, here are Sports Illustrated’s projections for who those three permanent foes would be for every team in the conference:

Projected Permanent Opponents (according to me)
Alabama – Auburn, LSU, Tennessee
Alabama head coach Nick Saban is one of the proponents of why the league has remained at eight conference games for the 2024 season because he does not want these three top tier opponents, Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee, as mainstays on his schedule. But, he plays them every season anyway in the conference’s current format.

Arkansas – Missouri, Ole Miss, Texas
Arkansas makes sense with any of LSU, Missouri, Texas A&M, or new members Texas and Oklahoma. Missouri is the new rivalry the conference has assigned the Razorbacks when the Tigers entered the league over a decade ago and the Arkansas-Ole Miss games of late have been great. The Razorbacks drawing Texas is an obvious choice with the history between the two programs.

Auburn – Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt
Auburn should get Vanderbilt if they also draw top rivals Alabama and Georgia. With the improvement of the Vanderbilt program under Clark Lea, that may not be a free win every season anymore.

Florida – Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma
The only game Florida does not get from their historical rivalries is Tennessee. Georgia is an obvious choice to remain on the schedule annually while a potential rivalry with Oklahoma could be created with the both programs’ successes historically. The game the SEC could save annually for the Gators has to be LSU, which has been one of the league’s top cross-divisional games recently.

Georgia – Auburn, Florida, Kentucky
With Georgia’s success, they should have no problems with these three opponents. Auburn, Florida, and Kentucky have all had history with Georgia so they make sense playing every other season Athens but I could see South Carolina being another option for the Bulldogs year in and yer out.

Kentucky – Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina
Kentucky’s cross-divisional match up with Mississippi State survives into the division-less SEC while also maintaining SEC East rivals Georgia and South Carolina.

LSU – Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
The only game LSU truly wants on their calendar every season is Alabama. The Tigers also keep other SEC rivals Ole Miss and Texas A&M in this potential format. Arkansas, Florida, and Oklahoma also make sense as potential annual opponents for LSU.

Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State
The Egg Bowl has to stick around on Thanksgiving while annual games between SEC rivals Arkansas and LSU will stick on the schedule. Vanderbilt also makes sense as an annual opponent for the Rebels.

Mississippi State – Kentucky, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
Ole Miss is a must keep on the schedule for the Bulldogs but outside of the Rebels it is uncertain who their other two permanent foes would be. Annual SEC East division foe Kentucky and SEC West foe Texas A&M are the suggested by Sports Illustrated but I could see any number of opponents making it to Starkville every other season.

Missouri – Arkansas, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt
Missouri keeps “The Battle Line Rivalry” with Arkansas, reignites an old Big 12 tilt with Oklahoma, and an SEC East battle with Vanderbilt. This is a favorable three for Missouri to go forward with in the new look SEC.

Oklahoma – Florida, Missouri, Texas
The Sooners keep their annual date with Texas in Dallas the first weekend of October at the Texas State Fair while getting back old Big 12 game against Missouri but a new match up with Florida. Texas A&M makes sense as a permanent foe with the Sooners and Aggies’ histories in the Big 12. Arkansas makes sense for Oklahoma as well with the two schools being separated by just over 192 miles.

South Carolina – Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee
Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee all stay on South Carolina’s schedule in this projected format as they avoid a tough match up with Georgia every season. The Bulldogs could sneak their way onto South Carolina’s schedule permanently though.

Tennessee – Alabama, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
The third Saturday of October rivalry with Alabama should be kept on the schedule annually as well as the annual Thanksgiving rivalry with Vanderbilt and the regional match up with South Carolina.

Texas – Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M
The Longhorns perfect three are these three opponents. The “Lone Star Showdown” resumes presumably during Thanksgiving weekend joining Oklahoma across the state in Dallas annually. Texas will want to avenge a 40-21 drubbing at the hands of Arkansas in 2021 when they head to Fayetteville in 2024 and potentially host them again in 2025 under a nine game model.

Texas A&M – LSU, Mississippi State, Texas
Most notably, the “Lone Star Showdown” returns as two programs look to each capture their first SEC football titles, with coaches that still have a lot to prove, including the Aggies’ Jimbo Fisher and the Longhorns’ Steve Sarkisian. The LSU rivalry has seen some great games the last decade since the Aggies joined the league and Mississippi State remains on the schedule as well.

Vanderbilt – Auburn, Tennessee, Missouri
Tennessee is the only obvious mainstay on the Commodores’ schedule. Auburn and Missouri join the Volunteers. The SEC could go a lot of ways with Vanderbilt’s two other permanent opponents.

Annual foes in basketball may not get as much chatter as the football ones but with the league’s improvement in the sport with Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee each making tournament runs over the last three seasons make them interesting. In the new format on the hardwood, each season a team will play two permanent opponents home and away, one rotating opponent home and away, plus the 12 remaining teams in single contests either home or away, for a total of 18 conference games. Here are my projections for each SEC team’s future permanent basketball conference foes:

Alabama – Auburn, LSU
Alabama has a lot of history with Auburn as their main rival with the Tide being ranked number one in the AP Poll for some of last season and Auburn during the 2021-2022 campaign. The Tide also have had great battles with LSU, especially deep into the SEC Tournament in the springs of 2021 and 2022.

Arkansas – Missouri, Oklahoma
Arkansas’ recent series with Oklahoma in Tulsa makes me think the SEC will pit the two against each other in a home and home annually. The Arkansas-Missouri series has been fantastic of late between the Razorbacks’ Eric Musselman and the Tigers’ Cuonzo Martin and now Dennis Gates.

Auburn – Alabama, Georgia
Auburn’s historic rivalries with Alabama and Georgia will remain permanently on the Tigers’ schedule. Alabama and Auburn’s programs have been fantastic of late and so have their games against each other while Auburn has handled Georgia of late as their program is rebuilt under upcoming second year head coach Mike White.

Florida – Georgia, Kentucky
Florida’s rivalry with Kentucky is one of the top match ups in the SEC every season and competitiveness between Todd Golden’s team and John Calipari’s team should continue to improve as the Gators get better under their new head coach. The Florida-Georgia series should always stay on the schedule with the long history between the two programs.

Georgia – Auburn, Florida
Georgia’s natural rivalries with Auburn and Florida make sense for Mike White’s team in the new SEC. Their two permanent rivals do look like they are currently better programs than the Bulldogs but things do look better under the younger coaching staff.

Kentucky – Florida, Tennessee
John Calipari’s team gets four tough match ups a year with Florida and Tennessee coming to Rupp and the Wildcats having to travel to Gainesville and Knoxville, two of the SEC’s toughest places to play.

LSU – Alabama, Texas A&M
LSU will have to improve under Matt McMahon with four difficult games a year against Alabama and Texas A&M, who are both trending up as programs.

Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Mississippi State, Missouri
Keeping cross state rival Mississippi State on the schedule is obvious for Rebels. Missouri was one of Ole Miss’ permanent foes in the current format so we could potentially see many Chris Beard-Dennis Gates battles twice a year in the future.

Mississippi State – Missouri, South Carolina
The Bulldogs keep their Egg Bowl rivalry with Ole Miss on the hardwood. They also get South Carolina, who was a permanent foe for the Bulldogs under the format introduced before the 2015-16 season.

Missouri – Arkansas, Mississippi State
The Tigers hate Arkansas so keeping Eric Musselman and the Razorbacks on the schedule is obvious. Future coaching battles between Dennis Gates and Chris Jans will be phenomenal, too.

Oklahoma – Arkansas, Texas
Oklahoma must keep their annual games with Texas on the schedule annually. They also get to face Arkansas every season, as their campuses are under 200 miles apart.

South Carolina – Mississippi State, Vanderbilt
The Gamecocks’ coach Lamont Paris gets regional rival Vanderbilt and a hard nosed Mississippi State team to build the program back up every season. The Commodores are two games South Carolina can win every season while the match ups with the Bulldogs might be more difficult.

Tennessee – Kentucky, Vanderbilt
Tennessee gets its instate rivalry with Vanderbilt in addition to facing off with Kentucky every season in Rupp and at home in Thompson-Boiling Arena. Both of those rivalries are hostile and will continue to grow in the SEC.

Texas – Oklahoma, Texas A&M
The Longhorns and Aggies must return to the hardwood annually with the two back in the same conference. Oklahoma must stay on the schedule as well as both programs transition into the SEC.

Texas A&M – LSU, Texas
Texas A&M’s decade of playing LSU as conference opponents keep it on the schedule. The Lone Star Showdown will return to College Station in 2025 as well.

Vanderbilt – South Carolina, Tennessee
A continuing home and home with Tennessee will be difficult every season but South Carolina should be manageable to at least get a win over the Gamecocks in two opportunities annually.

Baseball permanent opponents were in the rearview mirror when it came to the media and the fans thinking about it compared to football and basketball. Some teams in the SEC have different rivalries than they do in football, basketball, and other sports while others maintain the same ones. The conference’s baseball Starting in the spring of 2025, the SEC baseball schedule will include two permanent opponents for two series a year and eight more rotating series. Here are my projections for each SEC team’s future permanent baseball conference foes:

Alabama – Auburn, Ole Miss
Alabama will always keep Auburn on the schedule annually. However, the next permanent opponent on the Crimson Tide’s schedule is questionable. I picked Ole Miss but it could be any of LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee with baseball history between all of those four.

Arkansas – LSU, Texas A&M
One could argue Arkansas’ biggest baseball rival is LSU, Ole Miss, or Mississippi State. I picked LSU as Arkansas’ main baseball and had to make some changes to my projections and ended up with Texas A&M as the other one. Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn and A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle have a lot of history not only meeting as SEC opponents since Schloss took over A&M ahead of the 2021 season but also during his time at TCU when the Razorbacks and Horned Frogs met in the 2019 Fayetteville Regional.

Auburn – Alabama, Georgia
Butch Thompson has Auburn consistently hosting regionals now in the SEC. The obvious rivalry pairing for Auburn throughout this post has been Alabama and Georgia for the Tigers. Recently, Auburn has been the better baseball program than the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs, something they do not currently hold in football over those two schools.

Florida – Georgia, South Carolina
Battles between Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, Georgia head coach Wes Johnson, and South Carolina head coach Mark Kingston should be fantastic between the rivals. O’Sullivan, Johnson, and Kingston have a lot of history in the SEC so Florida is set when it comes to their baseball rivals.

Georgia – Auburn, Florida
Georgia’s rivarlies with Auburn and Florida were obvious picks to remain on their schedule for me with Wes Johnson coming in as their new head coach.

Kentucky – Missouri, Tennessee
Kentucky will get a tough series with Tony Vitello’s Tennessee club but should handle Missouri annually. The Wildcats hosted a regional in this year’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.

LSU – Arkansas, Mississippi State
With the history between LSU and Arkansas and Mississippi State, they were obvious picks to remain on the Tigers’ schedule. However, the familiarity between LSU and Ole Miss’ programs as natural rivals makes me think the Rebels could be in play for the “Bayou Bengals” as well.

Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Alabama, Mississippi State
Ole Miss will get a series with Mississippi State every year. However, Alabama is not a natural baseball rivalry for them. Mike Bianco, the head coach of the Rebels, attended LSU. The games between the Rebels and Tigers should stay on the schedule.

Mississippi State – LSU, Ole Miss
The Egg Bowl in baseball will stay put with Ole Miss for the Bulldogs as well as LSU in my projection. Arkansas is another program that has competed well with Mississippi State so they could be an option as well.

Missouri – Kentucky, Oklahoma
Missouri baseball has not been great as of late. They rarely appear in the NCAA Tournament. The Oklahoma series should return from the old Big 12 for the Tigers. Kentucky is another competitive team that could be on their schedule annually as well.

Oklahoma – Missouri, Texas
The Sooners will keep their rivalry with Texas going as they move into the SEC as well as renewing an old conference match up with Missouri in the Big 12. Oklahoma will look to return to the College World Series in 2024 after making it all the way to the finals in 2022.

South Carolina – Florida, Vanderbilt
Mark Kingston’s club gets two difficult series wins in Florida and Vanderbilt every season. The Gators and Commodores have two of the best programs in the country so the SEC may slide them an easier opponent that is not of those two.

Tennessee – Kentucky, Vanderbilt
Tennessee’s annual series with Vanderbilt is always a dandy with how good the two programs have been over the past few seasons. Kentucky is an up and coming team that Tennessee will likely have to deal with as well.

Texas – Oklahoma, Texas A&M
Texas and Texas A&M have played a few times in nonconference play over the last few seasons. But it will not be the same as when the two lock up again deep into SEC play, beginning in 2025. Oklahoma should also stay on the Longhorns schedule annually as well.

Texas A&M – Arkansas, Texas
The Aggies will get the Texas series back every season in addition to Arkansas. LSU also makes sense here with the games between those programs being very good.

Vanderbilt – South Carolina, Tennessee
Series between Tim Corbin’s Commodores and Tony Vitello’s Volunteers always have meaning for the postseason in the SEC and nationally. Vanderbilt keeping South Carolina on the schedule every year also makes sense with the great history between those two programs.

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College Baseball College Basketball College Football

Colorado officially headed back to the Big 12

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The Colorado athletic department officially announced they were headed back to the Big 12 for the 2024-2025 academic year and athletic season late Thursday afternoon. The Buffaloes’ board of regents met on Wednesday night and unanimously approved the move to return to the conference they called home from 1996-2011. The move comes after fellow Pac-12 members UCLA and USC announcing their move to the Big Ten for 2024-2025 and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff’s inability to find a new partner for the conference’s next media rights deal. The conference’s current deal with ESPN is set to end as the 2023-2024 athletic season wraps up. Kliavkoff refused to discuss the conference’s plans about the deal at last Friday’s Pac-12 football media day which was likely the last straw for the Buffaloes.

The Buffaloes departed from the same Big 12 twelve years ago because of the power Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M had in the conference in addition to the thought that the three could leave the conference, which happened in the following years. Colorado brings a football program that moves the needle with a superstar roster manager in Deion Sanders and an improving men’s basketball program. That leaves the question, who is next to join the Big 12? The conference won’t stay at 13 members so it is a valuable question to ask. It has been reported that Arizona and Connecticut have been in contact with the conference. The Wildcats and Huskies are likely the top two options for the conference as commissioner Brett Yormark look to dominate the sport of basketball. If Arizona exits for the Big 12, there is not much Kliavkoff can do to save themselves from collapse even with the brands of Oregon and Washington still in the conference.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming days, weeks, and months in this new era of college conference realignment.

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College Baseball College Basketball College Football

What if the Pac-12 disbands?

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The Pac-12 has not been able to find a TV partner for their new media rights deal to secure the conference’s future through the Pac-12’s 2023 football media day on Friday. The league must find a partner whether that be on live TV or streaming services such as Apple or Amazon to even expand beyond the ten remaining members. If no deal can get done, the conference will likely lose members such as Arizona and Colorado. Here is where I think every member in the Pac-12 is going if the Pac-12 disbands:

Arizona
Like I said in my Big 12 expansion post, Arizona is a perfect fit in the Big 12. Commissioner Brett Yormark wants to add the Wildcats because he wants to dominate the sport of basketball and Arizona has been at the top of the Pac-12 in the sport for a long time.
Best Fit: Big 12
Prediction: Big 12

Arizona State
At the beginning of Big 12 realignment discussions, Arizona State was expected to be linked at the hip of Arizona. But, the Sun Devils have not been as open to realignment discussions as the Wildcats. I think they stay in the Pac-12 for as long as they can.
Best Fit: Big 12
Prediction: Stay in Pac-12/Mountain West

Colorado
Colorado has always been a Big 12 school, they have just been in the Pac-12 for the last decade. The Buffaloes now have Deion Sanders as their football coach and an improving basketball program makes them the obvious fit as the Big 12 expands.
Best Fit: Big 12
Prediction: Big 12

California
California will not be able to head to any other conference without much value to any of its programs.
Best Fit: Pac-12
Prediction: Stay in Pac-12/Mountain West

Oregon
Oregon makes sense in the new Big Ten with former conference foes UCLA and USC. With Phil Knight and Nike in Eugene, they are the most valuable program left in the conference. But since last summer when the two southern California schools were invited, the Ducks have been left in the dark. So, if the Pac-12 stays alive with a new television deal, I think the Ducks will be there too.
Best Fit: Big Ten
Prediction: Stay in Pac-12/Mountain West

Oregon State
Oregon State will not be able to head to any other conference without much value to any of its programs.
Best Fit: Pac-12
Prediction: Stay in Pac-12/Mountain West

Stanford
Stanford had a successful football program during the better part of the 2010s but fell flat on their face with David Shaw resigning after a tough last few seasons as head coach. I doubt any conferences will go after the Cardinal without a quality football program.
Best Fit: Pac-12
Prediction: Stay in Pac-12/Mountain West

Utah
The Utes make sense in the Big 12 with rival BYU already in the conference now. But, that is the very reason why they are not expected to. Utah has one of the best football programs in the Pac-12 but will not attract any conference outside of the Big 12 because of their other sports programs.
Best Fit: Big 12
Prediction: Stay in Pac-12/Mountain West

Washington
Like Oregon, Washington was not invited to the Big Ten along with UCLA and USC. Seattle would be a great addition to the Big Ten and even out the conference out west. But, like Oregon I would expect Washington to stay in the league
Best Fit: Big Ten
Prediction: Stay in Pac-12/Mountain West

Washington State
Washington State will not be able to head to any other conference without much value to any of its programs.
Best Fit: Pac-12
Prediction: Stay in Pac-12/Mountain West

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College Football

2023 cbhsports Arkansas College Football Preview: Florida, Auburn, Missouri

Image Courtesy: ESPN

November 4
at.Florida
In season one of the Billy Napier era, Florida went (5-7) with a loss to SEC bottom dweller Vanderbilt. This has everyone doubting the Gators in the pre-season with QB Anthony Richardson out the door to the Indianapolis Colts and without a talented defense, which is the normal in Gainesville. Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz is expected to fill the void of Richardson after a so-so career in Madison. The most talented part of the Gator offense, however, is the same position group on the Razorbacks, the stable of running backs in Gainesville. Trevor Etienne, the younger brother of former Clemson star tailback Travis Etienne, and Montrell Johnson will pace the Gators in 2023. Arkansas’ defense will have to deal with Etienne, known for bouncing off tacklers, and Johnson, known for being a bruiser and finishing off runs in the end zone. Unless Graham Mertz impresses, Arkansas’ defense should manage this game okay with Mertz’ lack of ability to throw the ball down the field in the past. This is a game that has to be won by the Arkansas offense if the defense is doing their job. KJ Jefferson has to connect with new receivers Isaac TeSlaa, Tyrone Broden, Andrew Armstrong, and Isaiah Sategna in a tough road environment like “The Swamp”, where the two programs have played five of their last nine match ups. Projected Score: Arkansas 21, Florida 17

November 11
Auburn
Since Sam Pittman took over Arkansas in 2020, Auburn has been a pain in the side of the Razorbacks. The Bo Nix fumble not called a fumble in 2020 was a game Arkansas believed they deserved to win on “The Plains” so much that they came back two seasons later and won by three touchdowns. With Arkansas losing the match up against the Tigers in Fayetteville two seasons ago, they will want to protect home field against a familiar face in new Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, who previously coached at Ole Miss. Freeze’s battles with the Razorbacks were absolutely fantastic games but Razorback fans have a salty taste in their mouth after losing to his Liberty team by two points in Fayetteville with QB KJ Jefferson sidelined due to injury. His offensive scheme haunted Arkansas’ defense similar to how Bobby Petrino did with Missouri State last season. The Razorbacks will see both SEC West rivals this season in the final season of the division format. The QB competition will be important for Auburn in the fall, with incumbent starter Robby Ashford battling Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne. The winner of this battle will have the reins alongside new starting running back Jarquez Hunter, who will be indefinitely suspended for the start of the season but would make a great impact on the team. With former Auburn linebacker Travis Williams taking over the Arkansas defensive coordinator position, he would sure like to stymie the Tiger offense with his pass rush, led by Landon Jackson and Trajan Jeffcoat. The final Arkansas-Auburn game in the SEC West should come down to who can get that key stop in the second half. Projected Score: Arkansas 35, Auburn 31

November 24
Missouri (4 PM ET, CBS)
To put in point blank, Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks have to beat Missouri in year four of his tenure. Pittman is 1-2 against the Razorbacks’ assigned SEC rival, given the name the “The Battle Line Rivalry”, that most Arkansas fans don’t care about. Whoever starts at quarterback for Missouri (Brady Cook, Jake Garcia, or Brady Cook) should not be as good as KJ Jefferson. For that reason alone, Arkansas should win this game at home. However, Missouri signal-caller Brady Cook torched the Razorbacks on the ground and through the air on Black Friday following a subpar season before that in 2022. With Tigers star receiver Dominic Lovett out the door to reigning champion Georgia, Luther Burden must continue his great play as a sophomore to make whoever is throwing the ball to him have an easier time against an Arkansas secondary that is full of new faces. Arkansas’ younger offensive line must get downhill to pave the way for Rocket Sanders to get downhill and protect a talented Missouri defensive line including defensive ends Darius Robinson and Joe Moore. Arkansas’ home Thanksgiving environment will also have to play a huge factor in Pittman evening his record against the tigers this upcoming season. Projected Score: Arkansas 31, Missouri 27

Final Projected Record: 8-4 (4-4) SEC

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College Football

2023 cbhsports Arkansas College Football Preview: Ole Miss, Alabama, Mississippi State

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October 7
at.Ole Miss
Arkansas dominated Ole Miss in the first half in its sixth win of the season in 2022. Rebel QB Jaxson Dart was errant in the loss, getting hit, sacked, and tackled in the backfield making it a long night for him. If the Rebels’ offensive line shows up Dart of Oklahoma State transfer QB Spencer Sanders will be able to pick apart an Arkansas secondary that is full of veteran transfers who will have to learn how to play with each other. The most important part of this game though is the talent of both of these running games and running backs. Ole Miss tailback Quinshon Judkins led the SEC in rushing in 2022 while Arkansas’ Rocket Sanders finished second. The offensive line that can get the push they need to get their running game going will get an advantage in this game. Historically, Arkansas and Ole Miss’ defenses have only been average or worse than average. While that may not change this upcoming season, that probably means we will see another classic shootout between the rivals. KJ Jefferson had a career day in 2021 when the Razorbacks lost to the Rebels in his home state of Mississippi on an attempted two point conversion that would have won the game. If Lane Kiffin and Sam Pittman are coaching these two teams, we know another barn burner is coming in Oxford in early October. Projected Score: Ole Miss 49, Arkansas 42

October 14
at.Alabama
Arkansas has not beaten Alabama since 2006. Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks will look to finally change that during the 2023 season. With Alabama’s questions at QB, this may be Arkansas’ best opportunity to beat the Tide on the road after only losing by a touchdown in Tuscaloosa in 2021. It will be a challenge though with the talent Nick Saban has at running back (Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams) and along the defensive front (Dallas Turner, Tim Smith, and Justin Eboigbe), and another top ranked class coming to Tuscaloosa. So, running the football will be difficult for the Razorbacks even with their talented stable of running backs. Another challenge for the Razorbacks in this match up will be KJ Jefferson and his new receivers against an Alabama secondary that returns talented corrnerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold, and safety Malachi Moore. Can Alabama make it back to the SEC Championship and a national championship? Yes, because they are the most talented team in the country? Can they beat Arkansas again? That answer is a resounding yes until Arkansas can figure out a way to beat them. Arkansas’ best chance to beat them this year is to rattle Alabama’s new starter under center whether that is Ty Simpson, Jalen Milroe, or Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner.
Projected Score: Alabama 42, Arkansas 28

October 21
Mississippi State
The Arkansas-Mississippi State series has been one of the most competitive match ups as of late in the SEC. Sam Pittman won his first SEC game as head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks on October 3, 2020 when Arkansas beat Mississippi State, 21-14 in Starkville. A year later, the KJ Jefferson-Will Rogers battle the two fanbases got in Fayetteville two seasons ago was a spectacular game. The two sides traded scores and the team that had the ball last, Arkansas won the game in the final seconds with a Dominique Johnson rushing touchdown. With KJ Jefferson sidelined last season with an injury when the Razorbacks traveled to Starkville to face Mississippi State during the 2022 season, Bulldogs QB Rogers put together another great performance, leading his team to a dominant win, an irregularity in the series between the programs. This season, with KJ Jefferson and Will Rogers primed for big senior seasons, the Arkansas-Mississippi State game will hopefully emerge at the end of October with both teams in good standing without injuries. Zach Arnett, the previous defensive coordinator of the Bulldogs, has taken over for the legenadary Mike Leach, who tragically passed in December. With Arnett’s defensive mind in as the new head coach, many are wondering if Mississippi State’s fast pace passing offense can keep going as it is. To me, it is hard to believe it will slow down with veteran receivers Lideatrick Griffin, Justin Robinson, and Jaden Walley by his side in addition to tailback Jo’quavious Marks. This Bulldog offense will definitely be a chore for an Arkansas defense full of new faces. For Arkansas’ offense, they could take advantage of Mississippi State’s inexperience on defense, as the Bulldogs return just four players on that side of the ball. This is a game Arkansas needs to stay in the SEC West race and they should get it going into the open week.
Projected Score: Arkansas Arkansas 45, Mississippi State 35

(October 28 is the Razorbacks’ open week)

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College Football

2024 SEC football superlatives

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With no divisions for the first time in the SEC with the 2024 schedule, schedules have become more diverse. Instead of playing six other teams every year in their division as well as a permanent rival in the opposition division, each SEC program will play one permanent foe and seven rotating teams. Each SEC team will play different opponents than they normally do. With Oklahoma and Texas coming in, old rivalries are renewed with Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. Historic games between Alabama and Texas, Florida and Oklahoma, Georgia and Oklahoma, and others make this new SEC so interesting.

Top Games:
1.Georgia @ Alabama
The top two programs in the conference will face off for the first time in the regular season since 2020. Georgia has won the national championship the last two seasons and Alabama will have to challenge them if they want to become a title favorite again. It may be the biggest game in Tuscaloosa since Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow battled it out in LSU’s 46-41 win in 2019.
Date Projection: October 12

2.Texas @ Texas A&M
The Lone Star Showdown returns after a long decade plus vacation. The Aggies’ athletic programs have reaped benefits monetarily from being in the SEC and they will look to defeat a Texas program that has not fully “come back” since the two were last conference mates in the Big 12.
Date Projection: November 30

3.Tennessee @ Georgia
In what will likely be Georgia’s only challenging game this upcoming season, it should be another difficult test in 2024. Tennessee has emerged as the biggest threat to the bulldogs in the east last season of divisions. In 2024, a potential young QB match up between Georgia’s Carson Beck and Tennessee Nico Iamaleava would be dynamite.
Date Projection: November 23

4.Alabama @ Tennessee
The third Saturday game in October did end up being put on the schedule which foreshadows the Tide and the Vols being each others’ permanent rivals in a nine game conference schedule beyond 2024.
Date Projection: October 19

5.Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas)
The first Red River rivalry in the SEC will likely be the first weekend in October during the Texas State Fair like normal. The two blue bloods will look to make their mark in the conference in their first season in the SEC
Date Projection: October 5

Just Missed Out:
Georgia at. Texas
Date Projection: September 21
Tennessee at. Oklahoma
Texas at. Arkansas
Date Projection: November 9
Date Projection: November 2
South Carolina at. Oklahoma
Date Projection: September 21
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Arlington)
Date Projection: September 28

Games the SEC Missed Out on Scheduling:
1.Georgia-Texas A&M
Since the Aggies entered the SEC over a decade ago they have not hosted Georgia. It is time for Georgia to come to College Station to face the 12th Man. It would be a raucous crowd between two big fanbases.

2.Georgia-Oklahoma
The 2017 Rose Bowl Playoff Semifinal was one of the best college football games of all time. How the SEC did not schedule this game in year one of the Sooners being the conference is crazy to me.

3.Auburn-Florida, LSU
Before and even during the first part of the division era in the SEC, Auburn-Florida was a big rivalry in the conference. Since the turn of the century, battles between Auburn and Florida have been rare and the game will not come back in 2024. If the conference goes to nine games, we will see the game every other season. Because we rarely see this game, I would love to see this rivalry back at least every other season in a nine game setting.
One of the best SEC West battles every season, Auburn-LSU will not be played in the first season without divisions. The battle between the two tigers are always competitive so missing out on this game will be difficult for a season.

4.Georgia-South Carolina
Since South Carolina’s upset of Georgia in the fall of 2019, this old SEC East battle has been an intriguing game. The Gamecocks have since not been able to beat them again. However, getting the chance to do it in 2024 will not happen as they will not face off.

5.Ole Miss-Vanderbilt
The old cross-division rivals will not face off for the first time in awhile in 2024. Vanderbilt may not have the best program and may be an easy win for the Rebels in most year but the trip to Nashville for Ole Miss is important for recruiting every year.

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College Football

2023 cbhsports Arkansas College Football Preview: LSU, Texas A&M

Image Courtesy: Arkansas Razorbacks

September 23
at.LSU
After winning the SEC West in year one under Brian Kelly, LSU is ready to take the next step and make the College Football Playoff in 2023. The Tigers return arguably the best in the SEC in QB Jayden Daniels, running back Noah Cain, and extremely talented upcoming sophomore Harold Perkins on the defensive line. Better yet, Kelly gets former five-star and former All-SEC defensive tackle Maason Smith back from a torn ACL he suffered against Florida State in the 2022 opener. So, the trip to Baton Rouge will be a bit more difficult for Sam Pittman’s team this upcoming season than it was in 2021 when Cam Little kicked the game-winning field goal to give the Razorbacks their first win in the Battle for the Golden Boot series since 2015, 13-10. If Arkansas wants to win this game, QB KJ Jefferson cannot turn the ball over and will have to rely on his great stable of running backs. The Razorback defense will have to deal with a great Tiger receiving core in addition to Singletary. In one of the toughest environments in college football, it will be tough for Arkansas to go into a raucous “Death Valley” and win this game.
Projected Score: LSU 35, Arkansas 17

September 30
Texas A&M (Arlington)
Even after losing six consecutive games and only winning 5 games in 2022, Texas A&M beat Arkansas in Arlington for the tenth time in eleven seasons. With former Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino calling the offense now in College Station with talented true sophomore QB Connor Weigman, Arkansas’ defense will have to be ready for a Missouri State-like 2022 offensive performance by Petrino’s Bears’ team a season ago. The Razorback defense will have to deal with stellar Aggie receivers Evan Stewart and Ainias Smith. Arkansas will have to take advantage of a relatively young Texas A&M offensive line and freshman running back Rueben Owens if they want to beat the Aggies for the second time in twelve seasons. On the other side of the football, there are even more talented sophomores, including former five-star defensive tackle Walter Nolen plus juniors Fadil Diggs and Shemar Turner. A&M also returns all of their specialists so they should have all of the ingredients if head coach Jimbo Fisher gets out of the way of Petrino and lets him run the offense. Arkansas needs to get on the Aggie defense early and often if they want to win this game with all of their talent on that side of the ball.
Projected Score: Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 24

Categories
College Baseball College Basketball College Football

Ranking Big 12 expansion candidates

Image Courtesy: CNN

New Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has made a few things clear. He wants to move back to twelve teams as soon as possible. He allowed Oklahoma and Texas to pay their way to the SEC a year earlier than expected. He also wants to dominate the basketball court with the league’s dominance in the sport (Baylor and Kansas won the the national titles in 2022 and 2023 titles respectively) with the Big Ten and SEC control on football. He wants to expand the conference beyond the middle part of the country (find out where he wants to expand later in this post). Here are seven teams the Big 12 could add to the conference, ranked:

1.Colorado
The Buffaloes are not the easy number one but they should have never left the conference originally a decade plus ago. They have an improving basketball program under Tad Boyle which fits new commissioner Brett Yormark’s want to focus on dominating basketball with the SEC and Big Ten’s control of football. In addition, the hiring of Deion Sanders means more ticket sales for the program and another good option to add to the conference.

2.Arizona
Adding Arizona to the Big 12 would mean adding the Phoenix location to the conference even though the university is in Tucson. The Wildcats have a powerful basketball program, an improving football program, and a steady basketball program.

3.Utah
Utah is in the same area in the country as Arizona and Colorado so they would be adding the same thing to the conference. However, reports have come out that the Utes do not want to come into the Big 12 with instate rival BYU, making them a less interested candidate.

4.Arizona State
At the beginning of realignment talks, Arizona and Arizona State were attached at the hip. Now, reports say that Arizona State is okay to stick in the Pac-12, where no new TV deal has been made. So, the Sun Devils seem like an unlikely option.

5.Connecticut
The Huskies won their fifth national championship in men’s basketball this past season which makes them a perfect fit in Brett Yormark’s Big 12. Yormark wants to dominate basketball and adding UConn would make that statement.

6.San Diego State
San Diego State wants out of the Mountain West but do they let the Aztecs go and if so where they go? The Pac-12 makes sense because of UCLA and USC’s move to the Big Ten, which creates a need for a southern California school in the conference. The Big 12 makes more sense in some ways because they already have a new television deal. We will have to wait and see if the Aztecs are offered a spot by Yormark.

7.Gonzaga
The Bulldogs are an interesting case. Head men’s basketball coach Mark Few has done everything except win the national title. With Yormark’s want to expand the conference, create new TV windows at night out west with potential new members like Gonzaga or San Diego State, and for basketball dominance, Gonzaga fits. However, without a football program, and the difficulty of the basketball conference top to bottom, they will not be at the top of the invite list just yet.

Categories
College Basketball

2023 Arkansas basketball off-season update

Image Courtesy: Best of Arkansas Sports

*Updated 6/28 with new games announced for the schedule*

Projected Starters
Keyon Menifield, Guard (Sophomore)
Davonte Davis, Guard (Senior)
Tramon Mark, Guard (Senior)
Trevon Brazile, Forward (Junior)
Makhi Mitchell, Forward/Center (Senior)

Eric Musselman’s starting lineup is in question right now with it being months from tip-off to the Razorbacks’ 101st season as a program. However, you can definitely bet on upcoming senior guard Davonte Davis being included in the lineup after leading the hogs to another appearance in the Sweet 16 last season. This starting lineup needs to lead the team beyond the second weekend of the tournament (Sweet 16 & Elite 8) to a Final Four and a national championship.

Bench
Jalen Graham, Forward/Center (Senior)
El Ellis, Guard (Senior)
Jeremiah Davenport, Guard/Forward (Senior)
Khalif Battle, Guard (Junior)
Joseph Pinion, Guard (Sophomore)
Layden Blocker, Guard (Freshman)
Baye Fall, Forward/Center (Freshman)

As you can see, the depth at guard for this Razorback team looks incredible on paper. Many fans wish there would have been a bigger focus on adding depth to the front court but fans should trust Eric Musselman to keep pounding this season.

2023 Class (per 247sports composite)
16.Baye Fall (#3C) Denver, CO (Accelerated Schools)
23.Layden Blocker (#4PG) Little Rock, AR (Sunrise Christian)

Transfer Additions
Tramon Mark, Guard (Senior) Former School: Houston
El Ellis, Guard (Senior) Former School: Louisville
Jeremiah Davenport, Guard/Forward (Senior) Former School: Cincinnati
Chandler Lawson, Forward (Senior) Former School: Memphis
Khalif Battle, Guard (Junior) Former School: Temple
Keyon Menifield, Guard (Sophomore) Former School: Washington

Transfers Out
Makhel Mitchell, Forward/Center (Senior) New School: Little Rock
Barry Dunning, Forward (Sophomore) New School: Alabama-Birmingham
Derrian Ford, Guard (Sophomore) New School: Arkansas State

Eric Musselman landed his heralded six member 2022 high school class of Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black, Jordan Walsh, Joseph Pinion, Derrian Ford, and Barry Dunning, it was clearly a different strategy for Muss than in past years when he mainly focuses on transfers. After the 2022-2023 season, which was filled with injuries to Nick Smith and Trevon Brazile, Musselman has refocused on veteran transfers landing defensive stalwart Tramon Mark (Houston), high scoring guard El Ellis (Louisville), hot shooting forward Jeremiah Davenport (Cincinnati), defensive forward Chandler Lawson (Memphis), another high scoring guard in Khalif Battle (Temple), and playmaking point guard Keyon Menifield (Washington). With all of the options he has added at guard through the portal in addition to returning Davonte Davis, Arkansas needs to find a consistent shooter on perimeter and depth on the interior with the additions of Lawson and Davenport with Makhi Mitchell, Trevon Brazile, and Jalen Graham already on the roster.

2023-2024 Schedule (As it looks right now)
11/10 Gardner-Webb
11/13 Old Dominion
11/22-11/24 Battle 4 Atlantis (Paradise Island, Bahamas)
11/29 Duke
12/21 Abilene Christian

The 2023-2024 SEC basketball opponents for each team were announced today. Arkansas will play Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, and Texas A&M at home and away. Arkansas will just host Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. The Razorbacks will just travel to Alabama, Florida, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. The entire schedule should be known by the end of August.

Other News
With the sixth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected Arkansas guard Anthony Black. Black is the first Razorback to be drafted in the top ten since Joe Johnson was selected tenth by the Boston Celtics in 2001. In addition, guard Nick Smith was selected twenty-seventh by the Charlotte Hornets and wing Jordan Walsh was selected thirty eighth by the Sacramento Kings and was then traded to the Boston Celtics. Wing Ricky Council signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Razorbacks had three draft picks for the first time since 1992 when they had four selections: Todd Day (Round 1, Pick 8; Milwaukee Bucks), Oliver Miller (Round 1, Pick 22; Phoenix Suns), Lee Mayberry (Round 1, Pick 23; Milwaukee Bucks), and Isaiah Morris (Round 2, Pick 37; Miami Heat.)



Categories
College Football

2023 cbhsports Arkansas College Football Preview: Nonconference slate

Image Courtesy: Deseret News

September 2
Western Carolina (Little Rock) (4 PM ET, ESPN+/SECN+)
The Razorbacks should dominate Western Carolina in this game. It may take them awhile to get in sync, but experienced QB KJ Jefferson and talented running back Rocket Sanders should lead Arkansas to their first win of the season in the capital city. Arkansas’ front seven, headed by defensive end Landon Jackson and linebacker Pooh Paul will create havoc in the backfield which should make it a relatively opener for the hogs. Projected Score: Arkansas 42, Western Carolina 14

September 9
Kent State (4 PM ET, SECN)
After a 5-7 (4-4) MAC record last season, the Golden Flashes lost their offensive coordinator, Sean Lewis, to Coach Prime and Colorado. Because they lost their coordinator, every starter left from that side of the ball, it will be hard for them to deal with an Arkansas defense that has its best front seven in a long time. The most talented group on the Kent State offense is the running back room. Historically, Arkansas has not dealt with running games very well so it will be important for the hogs’ defensive talent to step up in this game. The Golden Flashes do not know who their QB is yet between Drew Kargman and Jaren Lewis and are very inexperienced at receiver after losing three of their top targets to bigger schools in the transfer portal. To me, an inexperienced offense will not bode well in Fayetteville. There is not much depth expected on the defensive line but the Kent State linebacker room includes Purdue transfer Khalil Saunders and Missouri transfer Devin Nicholson so the veteran offensive line for the Razorbacks will have to block well against the talented Power 5 transfers in the Golden Flashes front seven. Arkansas should win this game easily in the second half after some first half struggles. Projected Score: Arkansas 45, Kent State 24

September 16
BYU (7:30 PM ET, ESPN2)
Arkansas raced through BYU in Provo 52-35 last October. One would think it will be even easier for the Razorbacks against the Cougars in Fayetteville who lost QB Jaren Hall to graduation. Former USC and West Virginia QB Kedon Slovis comes in as he looks to rejuvenate his career against a steady KJ Jefferson in the middle of September. The hogs’ front seven will have to deal with talented UNLV tailback transfer Aidan Robbins and the secondary will look to stop receiver Keanu Hill, Kody Epps, and other targets. To me, if Arkansas focuses on this game well during the week and do not let the BYU offense have their way on early downs, this game will go like it did last season. KJ Jefferson will look to feast on the BYU defense for the second consecutive year and if he does, the hogs should be looking at a 3-0 record headed to Baton Rouge the next week. Projected Score: Arkansas 31, BYU 21

November 18
Florida International (TBA, TBA)
Grayson James and the FIU passing offense was inconsistent last season. He will have to help them turn around if the Panthers have a shot of upsetting the hogs nearing the end of the season. The FIU offensive line has been good in pass blocking but will have to be better in run blocking after a so-so season in that area. A rough defensive unit for the Panthers returns a lot outside of the secondary as they add Bryant transfer Jack Daly (DT). Arkansas should run through this team because of the depth they have in the backfield with Rocket Sanders, AJ Green, and Rashod Dubinion after FIU gave up 37 points a game a season ago. If Arkansas’ passing game is clicking with an entirely new receiving core at this point in the season, it could be even worse for the Panthers. Upsets happen but this does not look like one in June to me. Projected Score: Arkansas 45, Florida International 10

Categories
NBA

2023 cbhsports NBA Mock Draft

Image Courtesy: Bleacher Report

1.San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama, Center, France
The talented 7’4 big man will be the first selection with his height and growing potential.
2.Charlotte Hornets
Brandon Miller, Forward, Alabama (Freshman)
Miller’s scoring ability makes him a great option at number two and may be the best option.
3.Portland Trail Blazers
Scoot Henderson, Guard, NBA G-League Ignite
If Henderson, does not get picked at two, he will likely be picked at three. However, the Blazers already have Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons so this pick may be traded.
4.Houston Rockets
Amen Thompson, Guard, Overtime Elite
If the Rockets don’t want their former star, James Harden, back Thompson is the obvious pick here.
5.Detroit Pistons
Cam Whitmore, Guard/Forward, Villanova (Freshman)
The Villanova wing’s upside fits perfectly next to Cade Cunningham in Detroit.
6.Orlando Magic
Ausar Thompson, Guard, Overtime Elite
If Amen goes four to Houston, Orlando will get the other brother, Ausar, as the Magic would continue to look like a terrific young team with him on the roster next to 2023 Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero and guards Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz.
7.Indiana Pacers
Jarace Walker, Forward, Houston (Freshman)
Walker’s tremendous athleticism is something the Pacers have been missing. He is a perfect fit for this team.
8.Washington Wizards
Anthony Black, Guard, Arkansas (Freshman)
Black’s high basketball IQ and terrific passing ability make him someone that could be drafted even higher. The only thing I would worry about is him not having a consistent shot, which he has improved a bit.
9.Utah Jazz
Taylor Hendricks, Forward, Central Florida (Freshman)
The Jazz need a versatile forward to pair with leading scorer Lauri Markannen and so they should draft Taylor Hendricks if the draft looks like this.
10.Dallas Mavericks
Cason Wallace, Guard, Kentucky (Freshman)
If Kyrie Irving is headed out the door, the Mavs need a point guard. Cason Wallace, another guard that does not have a great shot, should be the pick here.
11.Orlando Magic
Gradey Dick, Guard, Kansas (Freshman)
The Magic need shooting and adding Gradey Dick, the talented shooter fo Kansas, will be a good selection.
12.Oklahoma City Thunder
Leonard Miller, Forward, NBA G-League Ignite
The Thunder add another versatile forward to their roster with the selection of Leonard Miller.
13.Toronto Raptors
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Guard, Indiana (Freshman)
Hood-Schifino’s scoring and passing ability would fit great in Toronto as they look to replace Kyle Lowry, who left to go to the Heat a few seasons ago.
14.New Orleans Pelicans
Nick Smith Jr., Guard, Arkansas (Freshman)
Smith might have been hurt and in and out of the lineup in his one season at Arkansas but his potential and floor is higher than most with his will to win and score the basketball.

Categories
College Football

2023 cbhsports College Football Preview: Arkansas

Image Courtesy: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Is Sam Pittman the right guy for Arkansas? Is he a bridge coach? All of the answers will be made in Sam Pittman’s fourth season as head coach. Pittman replaced both of his coordinators from the previous three seasons with veteran Dan Enos (offensive coordinator) and the younger Travis Williams (defensive coordinator). In addition, defensive backs guru Marcus Woodson has come on the staff and the hogs have had success on the recruiting trail defensively since he joined the staff. Will the coordinator replacements be as good as Barry Odom and Kendal Briles were during the 2021 season? If the answer is yes, the Razorbacks must get through a tough four game stretch away from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium from late September through the middle of October.

Multiple Game Previews (to be hyperlinked to post when published)
Nonconference Slate (to be published 6/24)
LSU, Texas A&M (7/8)
Ole Miss, Alabama, Mississippi State (7/15)
Florida, Auburn, Missouri (7/22)

Projected Depth Chart

QB
Starter
KJ Jefferson, Senior
Bench
Jacolby Criswell, Junior
Cade Fortin, Senior (RS)
Malachi Singleton, Freshman

KJ Jefferson is the unquestioned leader of this team. Under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Dan Enos, Jefferson’s passing needs to be refined. If that can be combined with his terrific running game, the hogs offense will be poised to be even better in 2023. The hogs finally get a veteran QB out of the portal that many expect to come in and support the hogs offense if Jefferson gets hurt and that is Arkansas native Jacolby Criswell, a North Carolina transfer who has a similar play style because of his similar size. Malachi Singleton is the future of the team, a talented QB from Georgia.

RB
Starter
Rocket Sanders, Junior
Bench
AJ Green, Junior
Rashod Dubinion, Sophomore
Dominique Johnson, Senior

If KJ Jefferson is the leader of the team, Rocket Sanders is the best player on his team, rushing for the second most in the SEC as a sophomore. If he continues his rise, Sanders can be a guy that not only gets awards at the end of the season but he can be an early NFL Draft pick. AJ Green, Rashod Dubinion, and the injured Dominque Johnson make up one of the best rooms in the country, coached by one of the best in the business, Jimmy Smith.

WR
Starters
Slot: Isaiah Sategna, Freshman (RS)
Outside: Andrew Armstrong Senior (RS)
Outside: Isaac TeSlaa, Senior
Bench
Bryce Stephens, Sophomorw (RS)
Tyrone Broden, Senior
Dazmin James, Freshman

The most inexperienced group on the roster has to replace the production of Matt Landers and Jadon Haselwood, who led the unit a season ago. Isaiah Sategna shined in the spring game with multiple receiving touchdowns while Andrew Armstrong and Isaac TeSlaa come in from lower levels where they both put up big numbers. Tyrone Broden, who came in from Bowling Green got injured during spring ball so he will have a chance to prove himself again during fall camp.

TE
Starter
Var’Keyes Gumms, Sophomore
Bench
Nathan Bax, Senior (RS)
Luke Hasz, Freshman

Former Stanford tight ends coach Morgan Turner brings in great experience from northern California where he coached many NFL talents such as the Dallas Cowboys’ Dalton Schultz. Turner replaces Dowell Loggains, an Arkansas alum who took the South Carolina offensive coordinator job. With Pittman’s offensive line scheme, the hogs should focus more on their tight end talent and the depth they brought in from the high school 2023 class and from the transfer portal. Former North Texas pass catcher Var’Keyes Gumms comes in and is expected to start as a sophomore after a terrific freshman season. Veteran Nathan Bax and talented freshmen Luke Hasz and Shamar Easter should also get playing time in the upcoming season.

OL
Starters
LT: Devon Manuel, Sophomore (RS)
LG: Brady Latham, Senior (RS)
OC: Beaux Limmer, Senior (RS)
RG: Josh Braun, Junior (RS)
RT: Patrick Kutas, Sophomore
Bench
Andrew Chamblee, Freshman (RS)
Cole Carson, Sophomore (RS)
Amaury Wiggins, Sophomore (RS)
Ty’Kieast Crawford, Senior
E’Marion Harris, Freshman (RS)

Cody Kennedy has done a terrific job with the offensive line during Sam Pittman’s tenure in Fayetteville. His line may be a little younger but is full of veterans like multiple year starters such as left guard Brady Latham and center Beaux Limmer. The line may need a little depth but the group definitely improved overall when it added Florida transfer Josh Braun to plug into the right guard position and young linemen such as E’Marion Harris, Cole Carson, and Amaury Wiggins.

DL
Starters
DE: Landon Jackson, Junior
DT: Cam Ball, Sophomore (RS)
DT: Taurean Carter, Senior
DE: Trajan Jeffcoat, Senior (RS)
Bench
Jashaud Stewart, Senior
Anthony Booker Jr., Senior (RS)
Eric Gregory, Senior (RS)
Zach Williams, Senior

For me, the Arkansas defense’s most talented unit is its defensive line. Led by upstart junior Landon Jackson, the defensive end who starred during spring practice, the line should get more sacks than it did a season ago where linebackers Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool ate up all of the tackles. Taurean Carter returns to the team after an injury riddled season as Cam Ball and Missouri transfer Trajan Jeffcoat continue their success making tackles in the backfield. The thing most improved on the defensive line is the depth with Maryland transfer Anthony Booker, Jashaud Stewart, Eric Gregory, and Zach Williams.

LB
Starters
Chris Paul Jr., Sophomore (RS)
Antonio Grier, Senior (RS)
Bench
Jordan Crook, Sophomore
Jaheim Thomas, Junior (RS)

Chris “Pooh” Paul should be the next in line after a long line of successful linebackers in Barry Odom’s defense: Grant Morgan, Drew Sanders, and Bumper Pool. In Travis Williams defense, the team will be pressuring the quarterback more so Paul and Central Florida transfer Antonio Grier can have success rushing the passer. Talented sophomore linebacker Jordan Crook and Cincinnati transfer Jaheim Thomas give reliable backup options to Paul and Grier.

Secondary
Starters
CB: Dwight McGlothern, Senior (RS)
CB: Jaheim Singletary, Sophomore
FS: Hudson Clark, Senior (RS)
SS: Lorando Johnson, Junior (RS)
NB: Alfahiym Walcott, Senior (RS)
Bench
Keey’von Stewart, Senior
AJ Brathwaite Jr., Senior (RS)
Malik Chavis, Senior (RS)

The Arkansas secondary was the absolute worst in the country after many injuries without much depth in 2022. However, Sam Pittman brought in Marcus Woodson, who turned a terrible Florida State unit into one of the best in the country. Woodson will look to do the same thing in Fayetteville with former LSU transfer Dwight McGlothern (4 picks in 2022) and transfers Lorando Johnson (Baylor), Alfahiym Walcott (Baylor), and Jaheim Singletary (Georgia). All four of the incoming defensive back transfers played significant times on their old teams.

Special Teams
Starters
Kicker: Cam Little, Junior
Punter: Max Fletcher, Sophomore
Kick-Off: Tyler Larco, Senior (RS)

Cam Little has brought stability to the Razorbacks’ kicking game with an 82% kicking percentage while Max Fletcher struggled to punt far consistently. Tyler Larco will take over kick-off duties as Little continues his success kicking extra points and kick-offs.

Incoming 2023 Class (via 247sports)
135.Jaylon Braxton (#15CB) Frisco,TX Lone Star HS
168.Shamar Easter (#9TE) Ashdown,AR Ashdown HS
196.Luke Hasz (#10TE) Bixby,OK Bixby HS
323.Isaiah Augustave (#21RB) Naples,FL Naples HS
362.Luke Brown (#19IOL) Paris,TN Henry County HS
373.Malachi Singleton (#22QB) Kennesaw,GA North Cobb HS
398.Davion Dozier (#57WR) Moody,AL Moody HS
427.Quincy Rhodes Jr. (#43DE) North Little Rock,AR North Little Rock HS
518.Dazmin James (#72WR) Clayton,NC Clayton HS
527.TJ Metcalf (#49S) Pinson,AL Pinson Valley HS
545.Dallas Young (#55CB) Gardendale,AL Gardendale HS
565.Paris Patterson (#44IOL) East St. Louis,IL East St. Louis HS
653.Christian Ford (#58S) McKinney,TX McKinney HS
677.Kaleb James (#74DL) Mansfield,TX Mansfield HS
754.Carson Dean (#71DE) Carrollton,TX Hebron HS
754.Alex Sanford (#63LB) Oxford,MS Oxford HS
814.RJ Johnson (#58ATH) McDonough,GA Eagles Landing Christian Academy
893.Joey Su’a (#69IOL) Bentonville,AR Bentonville HS
977.Brad Spence (#94DE) Houston,TX Klein Forest HS
NA.Ian Geffrard (#93OT) Mableton,GA Whitefield Academy
NA.Dylan Hasz (#135S) Bixby,OK Bixby HS

Transfer Additions (Year each player is going into)
Isaac TeSlaa, WR (Senior) Former School: Hillsdale College
Al Walcott, S (Senior) Former School: Baylor
Antonio Grier, LB (Senior) Former School: South Florida
John Morgan, DE (Senior) Former School: Pittsburgh
Trajan Jeffcoat, DE (Senior) Former School: Missouri
Anthony Booker, DT (Senior) Former School: Maryland
Jaheim Thomas, LB (Senior) Former School: Cincinnati
Tyrone Broden, WR (Senior) Former School: Bowling Green
Keivie Rose, DT (Senior) Former School: Louisiana Tech
Francis Sherman, TE (Senior) Former School: Louisville
Keeyon Stewart, CB (Senior) Former School: TCU
Andrew Armstrong, WR (Junior) Former School: Texas A&M-Commerce
Joshua Braun, OL (Junior) Former School: Florida
Jacolby Criswell, QB (Junior) Former School: North Carolina
Lorando Johnson, CB (Junior) Former School: Baylor
Jaheim Singletary, CB (Sophomore) Former School: Georgia
Var’Keyes Gumms, TE (Sophomore) Former School: North Texas

Schedule Preview
There will be doing multiple game breakdowns coming in the following Saturdays on the blog. My predicted results on this post are subject to change.
Schedule
9/2 West Carolina (Little Rock) Win
The hogs should cruise in the opener after a slow start in their home away from home in the central part of the state.
9/9 Kent State Win
In their Fayetteville opener, Arkansas should dominate Kent State.
9/16 BYU Win
The hogs dominated BYU on the road in Provo last season in one of QB KJ Jefferson’s best games as a hog. With BYU in the Big 12 and in Fayetteville for the return trip, the hogs will do the same thing they did to the cougars last season.
9/23 @ LSU Loss
LSU almost lost to the hogs without KJ Jefferson in Fayetteville last season. The tigers are poised to be talented again after an SEC West Championship season and should take care of the hogs late in Baton Rouge.
9/30 Texas A&M (Arlington) Loss
After a fast start in Arlington last season, Arkansas faltered late and lost their tenth game in eleven seasons to Texas A&M. A&M will be even more talented in 2023 and they will beat the Razorbacks yet again.
10/7 @ Ole Miss Loss
It will be tough for the hogs to beat the rebels for a third time in four seasons, especially again on the road in Oxford.
10/14 @ Alabama Loss
Alabama is still the standard bearer in the SEC. The hogs have not beaten Alabama since 2006 and they will not end the streak in 2023.
10/21 Mississippi State Win
Mississippi State crushed Arkansas at home in 2023 but with a first-year head coach, the Razorbacks will give the same game to the bulldogs they did in 202.
10/28 Off
11/4 @ Florida Win
Arkansas will go into Gainesville and pull out a much needed win in “The Swamp”.
11/11 Auburn Loss
Hugh Freeze’s offense gave Arkansas fits with Liberty in 2022 resulting in a loss and at Auburn, it will do the same thing.
11/18 Florida International Win
Arkansas needs to win this game if they want to become bowl eligible and they should beat the panthers.
11/24 Missouri (Senior day/night) Win
Arkansas has struggled to beat Missouri since 2016, some of the worst years of the Arkansas football program’s history. This could very well be KJ Jefferson’s last career game in Fayetteville and he will not go out with a loss.

Projected Record: 7-5 (3-5) SEC

Categories
College Baseball

2023 cbhsports NCAA College World Series Predictions

Image Courtesy: Rocky Top Talk

June 16

Game 1 (2 PM ET, ESPN)
TCU
Oral Roberts

Carter’s Pick: TCU

Game 2 (7 PM ET, ESPN)
2.Florida
7.Virginia

Carter’s Pick: Virginia

June 17

Game 3 (2 PM ET, ESPN)
1.Wake Forest
8.Stanford

Carter’s Pick: 1.Wake Forest

Game 4 (7 PM ET, ESPN)
5.LSU
Tennessee

Carter’s Pick: 5.LSU

June 18

Game 5 (2 PM ET, ESPN)
7.Virginia
Oral Roberts

Carter’s Pick: 7.Virginia

Game 6 (7 PM ET, ESPN)
2.Florida
TCU

Carter’s Pick: 2.Florida

June 19

Game 7 (2 PM ET, ESPN)
8.Stanford
Tennessee

Carter’s Pick: Tennessee

Game 8 (7 PM ET, ESPN)
1.Wake Forest
5.LSU

Carter’s Pick: 1.Wake Forest

June 20

Game 9 (2 PM ET, ESPN)
7.Virginia
TCU

Carter’s Pick: TCU

Game 10 (7 PM ET, ESPN)
5.LSU
Tennessee

Carter’s Pick: Tennessee

June 21

Game 11 (2 PM ET, ESPN)
2.Florida
TCU

Carter’s Pick: TCU

Game 12 (7 PM ET, ESPN)
1.Wake Forest
Tennessee

Carter’s Pick: 1.Wake Forest

June 22

Game 13 (2 or 7 PM ET, ESPN)
2.Florida
TCU

Carter’s Pick: 2.Florida

Championship Series
Game 1 (7 PM ET, ESPN)
1.Wake Forest
2.Florida

Carter’s Pick: 2.Florida

Game 2 (3 PM ET, ESPN)
1.Wake Forest
2.Florida

Carter’s Pick: 1.Wake Forest

Game 3 (If necessary) (7 PM ET, ESPN)
1.Wake Forest
2.Florida

Carter’s Pick: 2.Florida

Categories
College Baseball

2023 cbhsports NCAA College Baseball Super Regionals Predictions

Image Courtesy: Draft Kings

(All game times eastern)

Super Regionals (June 10-12)

Winston-Salem Super Regional (Winston-Salem, NC)
1.Wake Forest
16.Alabama

Carter’s Pick: 1.Wake Forest in 2

Wake Forest swept their way through their regional. They will look to do the same thing against Alabama, who appear in the supers for the first time since 2010. Infielders Brock Wilken (27 home runs) and Nick Kurtz (23 home runs) make it go for the Demon Deacons while pitchers Rhett Lowder (125) and Josh Hartle (120) lead them in punch outs. For Alabama, infielder Colby Shelton (22 home runs and 47 RBIs) and outfielder Andrew Pickney (17 home runs and 56 RBIs). Pitchers Jacob McNairy (83) and Luke Holoman (79) lead the Tide in strikeouts. All of that to say, I think the Demon Deacons will cruise to Omaha and become the first number one overall seed since COVID-19 to advance to Omaha.

Game 1: June 10, 12 PM ET, ESPN
Game 2: June 11, TBD, TBD
Game 3 (If necessary): June 12, TBD, TBD

Stanford Super Regional (Stanford, CA)
8.Stanford
Texas

Carter’s Pick: Texas in 3

Stanford had to come out of the loser’s bracket in their own regional and beat a red hot Texas A&M team twice. Texas’ talented pitching staff helped them cruise through the Coral Gables regional in just six games with two wins over the nine-seeded Hurricanes. The Cardinal lineup is very talented 1-9 while the Longhorns lineup includes outfielder Eric Kennedy (16 home runs and 45 RBIs) and infielder Dylan Campbell (13 home runs and 48 RBIs). The Horns’ pitching has been great as previously mentioned with Lucas Gordon (98 strikeouts) and Lebarron Johnson (94 strikeouts) while Stanford’s pitching has been led by Quinn Matthews, who has struck out 136 batters. Stanford has a lot of consistency but the Horns’ pitching will power them through.

Game 1: June 10, 6 PM ET, ESPN2
Game 2: June 11, TBD, TBD
Game 3 (If necessary): June 12, TBD, TBD

Baton Rouge Super Regional (Baton Rouge, LA)
5.LSU
12.Kentucky

Carter’s Pick: 5.LSU in 3

Kentucky lost two of three games to LSU in Baton Rouge this season but challenged the tigers more than most teams during the regular season. The Wildcats had to fight off Indiana to get another chance in Baton Rouge while the tigers defeated Oregon State to move on. Outfielders Dylan Crews and Tommy White as well as pitcher Paul Skenes power the tigers. But outside of Skenes, the pitching staff is weak at best. LSU coach Jay Johnson will need to hope that the MLB prospect Skenes dominates in his start because Kentucky is a good team. The Wildcats’ offense is very balanced but first baseman Hunter Gilliam has led their offense with 12 home runs and 71 RBIs and their pitching staff is led by Darren Williams, who has a 4-2 record. LSU should win at home with better pitching than they had against Kentucky during the regular season.

Game 1: June 10, 3 PM ET, ESPN
Game 2: June 11, TBD, TBD
Game 3 (If necessary): June 12, TBD, TBD

Hattiesburg Super Regional (Hattiesburg, MS)
Southern Miss
Tennessee

Carter’s Pick: Tennessee in 3

Tennessee struggled at points during the regular season but made it to the Clemson regional as the two seed. They advanced through the regional in six games following a fourteen inning win in the 1-0 game over the tigers. Southern Miss has advanced to another super regional in Scott Berry’s last ride as head coach. With the eagles’ hosting this super regional, it gives them some sort of edge. But Tennessee’s play since last weekend shows me that they are back to being a confident team similar to where they were last season as the country’s top team. Southern Miss may not get the national attention that other SEC teams get because of being a smaller school but they have a power hitter in outfielder Slade Wilks (20 home runs and 58 RBIs) and led on defense by pitcher Tanner Hall who has a 12-3 record as the ace in Hattiesburg. Veteran outfielder Griffin Merritt (18 home runs and 46 RBIs) and infielder Christian Moore (17 home runs and 48 RBIs) power the Vols’ offense. Pitchers Andrew Lindsey (3-2 record; 64 strikeouts), Drew Beam (8-4 record; 72 strikeouts), Chase Dollander (6-6 record and 111 strikeouts), and Chase Burns (4-3 record and 100 strikeouts) are the main identity of this team. This super is going to be one of the closest this weekend.

Game 1: June 10, 3 PM ET, ESPNU
Game 2: June 11, TBD, TBD
Game 3 (If necessary): June 12, TBD, TBD

Super Regionals (June 9-11):

Eugene Super Regional (Eugene, OR)
Oregon
Oral Roberts

Carter’s Pick: Oregon in 3

Oregon went into Nashville and took one of the toughest regionals against the host, Vanderbilt. Oklahoma State could not advance out of its regional for the second consecutive postseason as the four seed, Oral Roberts got out of Stillwater and advanced to Eugene. Ducks’ infielder Drew Cowley and infielder Sabin Ceballos star in the offense with 16 home runs each. Logan Mercado leads the Oregon pitching staff with 70 strikeouts. For Oral Roberts, outfielder Matt Hogan leads the eagles with 16 home runs while pitchers Brooks Fowler (9-1 record; 73 strikeouts) and Jakob Hall (8-3 record; 87 strikeouts). The run should end for ORU and Oregon should move on to Omaha.

Game 1: June 9, 8 PM ET, ESPNU
Game 2: June 10, 9 PM ET, ESPNU
Game 3 (If necessary): June 11, TBD, TBD

Fort Worth Super Regional (Fort Worth, TX)
14.Indiana State
TCU

Carter’s Pick: TCU in 2
TCU’s offense was on fire and they cruised through the Fayetteville Regional in six games with two dominant wins over three seed Arkansas. If they continue at half the rate that they were hitting at last weekend with Tre Richardson hitting four home runs over the Frogs’ games in Fayetteville after only having two entering the weekend and Brayden Taylor continuing his dominance hitting the baseball. Their pitching also kept them from losing many leads against Arkansa. Indiana State was able to advance past Iowa and move to the supers. However, with them not hosting due there being another event, it will be tougher for the Sycamores to advance past the hot Horned Frogs. They will rely on infielder Mike Sears (19 home runs and 62 RBIs) and pitcher Matt Jachec (97 strikeouts) to help advance to Omaha. To me, TCU is too hot and they will eliminate the Sycamores.

Game 1: June 9, 5 PM ET, ESPNU
Game 2: June 10, 6 PM ET, ESPNU
Game 3 (If necessary): June 11, TBD, TBD

Charlottesville Super Regional (Charlottesville, VA)
7.Virginia
Duke

Carter’s Pick: Duke in 3

Virginia split the three games versus a very good East Carolina team and advanced to their own super regional. Duke defeated ten seed Coastal Carolina to set up an all-ACC match up. Virginia’s offense in powered by Jake Gelof (22 home runs and 84 RBIs), Kyle Teel (13 home runs and 64 RBIs), and Ethan O’Donnel (13 home runs and 52 RBIs) and their pitching staff is led by Connell Early, who boasts an 11-2 record and 90 strikeouts. The Blue Devils’ MJ Metz and Alex Stone lead the team with 17 home runs each while pitcher Alex Gow leads the team with 68 strikeouts. I think Duke’s bats help them upset Virginia.

Game 1: June 9, 12 PM ET, ESPN2
Game 2: June 10, 12 PM ET, ESPN2
Game 3 (If necessary): June 11, TBD, TBD

Gainesville Super Regional (Gainesville, FL)
2.Florida
15.South Carolina

Carter’s Pick: 2.Florida in 3

Behind Wake Forest, Florida has been the second best team in the country for most of the season. The Gators had to fend off tournament regular Texas Tech to advance. South Carolina, a top three team with just three losses by the middle of the regular season, faltered with injuries late but they swept through their own regional. Florida’s lineup is led by pitcher/infielder Jac Caglianone (31 home runs , 84 RBIs, 7-3 record, 81 strikeouts as pitcher) as well as outfielder Wyatt Langford (18 home runs). South Carolina’s offense is powered by Ethan Petry (23 home runs and 75 RBIs) and their pitcher Jack Mahoney (80 strikeouts). The Gamecocks swept the Gators during the regular season but I think this will be a better series with Florida avenging their losses in three games.

Game 1: June 9, 6 PM ET, ESPN2
Game 2: June 10, 3 PM ET, ESPN2
Game 3 (If necessary): June 11, TBD, TBD

Categories
College Football

What SEC football will look like next season (2024)

Image Courtesy: The Journal Record

The only Power 5 football conference that will play eight conference games is the great SEC.

In Destin at the 2023 SEC Spring Meetings, Greg Sankey and the sixteen coaches agreed upon a one-year eight-game conference schedule for the 2024-2025 season. Each team will be required to play one opponent from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, or Notre Dame when the Sooners and Longhorns join the league. The conference will eliminate divisions and the conference championship game will now feature the top two teams in the standings. According to Sankey, the one-year model allowed the conference members to play schools they were already under contract to play out of conference. He also believes a long term plan for football scheduling will be in place at next year’s meetings (that will likely be a nine-game format with three permanent rivals). Each school’s opponents will be announced on June 14th on the SEC Network. Although there are no “permanent” opponents according to the SEC’s official announcement, I would anticipate the SEC slating teams with their secondary rivals even though only a single permanent rival will be included in this single year slate. So, expect Alabama to draw Tennessee, Georgia to play Auburn, and Texas A&M to play Texas even though those two games are not expected primary rivals in the one year eight-game conference schedule. Here are the expected primary rivals according to sources for this one year format (they will play seven other SEC opponents on their schedule in 2024):

Alabama/Auburn
Arkansas/Missouri
Florida/Georgia
Kentucky/South Carolina
LSU/Texas A&M
Oklahoma/Texas
Ole Miss/Mississippi State
Tennessee/Vanderbilt